Pete Gillen, who coached Providence to the Elite 8 and took Xavier and Virginia to the NCAA Tournament, is a college basketball analyst on CBS Sports Network. Throughout the tournament, he appears on “NCAA March Madness 360” and “NCAA March Madness Bracket Breakdown.” As told to The Post’s Steve Serby:
My Sour 16 is mercifully behind me. I’m not too ashamed to admit that I was desperate enough to solicit advice from my boys in New England:
Bud Light Pat — it’s the only beer he drinks — is an ex-bookie. He pulled a hamstring and they got rid of him. Paulie The Bartender is great with horses, but he’s shaky on hoops. And Three-Finger Willie … he’s at his best at department stores.
Now I’ve got this Final Four wired.
National semifinals
Virginia over Auburn: A contrast in styles, Auburn wants a track meet, and Virginia wants a Viennese waltz. I did the Auburn game at UAB during the season for CBSSN, and UAB slowed the tempo and it drove Auburn crazy. Virginia will play so slow and deliberate that ball will feel like an icicle when the Tigers finally get it back.
De’Andre Hunter has a big game and Virginia guards Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome stay hot, and Bryce Brown and Jared Harper go cold from downtown. Harper is quicker than Bill Raftery to last call (but not me). Virginia will have to build a wall in front of the rim, because no human alive, dead or yet to be born can stay in front of Harper. Cheat off some of the big guys — I’m talking to you Mamadi Diakite — and try to give Kihei Clark help.
Auburn will probably have to hit 14 3s to win this one, but Virginia is third in the country in 3-point defense (28.7 percent).
Auburn coach Bruce Pearl is like a Pentecostal preacher — he gets up on a pulpit and he just talks and he foams and he bleeds from the eyes. Tony Bennett is more matter-of-fact, somebody from a Fortune 500 company, IBM; he’s poised and organized, and intelligent, classy. Both have done wonderful jobs.
The Tigers won one against North Carolina for injured Chuma Okeke, but the tears have dried up and reality sets in.
Prediction: Virginia 61, Auburn 57
Michigan State over Texas Tech: Tom Izzo has the best player on the court in Cassius Winston. He creates shots for himself and his teammates; I think he’s the best point guard in the college ranks. I don’t think Davide Moretti or Matt Mooney can guard him because he’s so quick, he’ll go by them like the North wind, so it might have to be Jarrett Culver. I don’t think anybody can keep Winston out of the paint.
The Spartans beat Texas Tech down the court with their fast break and score in transition. And the Spartans own the glass with a ton of second shots, and the big men set up shop at the free-throw line. Jarrett Culver gets his 20 points — he’s a potential lottery pick — but the Spartans lock up Mooney and Moretti. Aaron Henry will probably guard Culver.
The refs call the game fairly tight, so the Red Raiders can’t get away with their physical MMA style of defense. It’s a rock fight, and the film of this game won’t be in the Louvre, but it will be like the Mona Lisa to the Spartans fans.
Texas Tech reminds you of the Pat Riley Knicks — they grab and clutch, they’ll bite you in the kneecap, they’ll do anything, whatever it takes. They’re not dirty, but they’re physical, they get away with as much as they can. Like the John Thompson Georgetown teams — you had to wear a helmet to play against them, and take out some insurance.
Tariq Owens, what a find for the Red Raiders! It’s a shame St. John’s lost him, that’s terrible. See, recruiting today, you gotta recruit guys every day. Some people drive around campuses, see if anybody’s frowning, they try to recruit ’em. He must have frowned one day. He went from Queens and wound up in Lubbock, Texas.
Complementary guy, goes to the boards, blocks shots. They need a rim protecter to be an elite defensive team, and they are elite. He not only blocks shots, but he changes shots, he rushes shots and he prevents shots. He’s like Batman, just flapping his wings, getting ready to pounce.
Chris Beard learned a few tricks of the trade from Bob Knight. He’s taking off like a rocket, the way he’s going. He’s just a hard-working, blue-collar guy from Texas who just gets up every day and just keeps pounding the rock. They do it with great toughness and physicality and blood, sweat and tears. He knows how to win.
Prediction: Michigan State 58, Texas Tech 56
Championship game
Michigan State over Virginia: Winston plays good, like a point guard should. He’s too quick and too strong for the Virginia defenders. He’s a lot like Izzo’s 2000 national championship leader Mateen Cleaves. It’s like the quarterback in football. If you got Tom Brady, you can have Joe Bagadonuts with you, you’re still gonna win. The Cavaliers will probably start Clark, the little guy on him, but he’s too powerful for him. I think he’ll do a decent job, but I don’t think he’ll be able to stop him. I think Winston is too quick for Hunter.
Virginia can win, but they’ll have to take charges on Winston, and Guy and Jerome have to get hot from 3-point land. And Hunter can’t be as quiet as he has been.
The physical Spartans control the paint at both ends. Xavier Hillman has a big game off the offensive glass, and Kenny Goins knocks down some 3s to spread out Virginia’s defense.
Henry slows down Hunter. Guy and Jerome knock down some 3s, but not enough of them.
Izzo wins his second national championship. His heart’s on his sleeve. What you see is what you get, he cares about the players, he’s a great competitor, he’s a tough, hard-nosed guy. He had great mentors. You don’t see too many kids transfer out of his program. He’s a student of the game, he’s very passionate, and his team reflects his passion.
Prediction: Michigan State 68, Virginia 64